Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, has criticised the leader of Edinburgh City Council for suggesting a tourist tax could be up and running in the city in 2019 (Image: REUTERS/Yves Herman)

There was controversy over suggestions to introduce such a plan for Skye a few months ago. Business Insider magazine's Burning Question feature covered the issue and could find no senior business figures in favour of such a tax for the islands.

Hyslop, who held onto the culture portfolio in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's recent reshuffle, said such a move “doesn't make sense” in the light of already high VAT charges on the industry.

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Many business leaders in the hospitality sector have also complained about the high level of business rates.

McVey has said that “quite a lot of progress” has been made on the scheme.

But Hyslop, who is currently on Japan on a trip promoting Scottish business, replied in a Tweet starting with three question marks. It went on: “So let's be clear - you have no shared plans, no tourist business consultation and no agreement with the Scottish government."

The council leader replied that the council was "in the process of business engagement" and said there was no agreement with the government "yet".